Senator Richard Burr

August 1, 2018: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement regarding the Senate’s passage by a vote of 87-10 of the Conference Report on the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2019, H.R. 5515:

“The National Defense Authorization Act ensures those who volunteer to defend our nation have the tools and resources necessary to do their jobs and I’m pleased to vote in favor of this critical funding measure,” said Senator Burr. “I was glad to see this bill included a provision I introduced with Senator Murray to begin a pilot program for Special Operations Command (SOCOM) medics to become Physician Assistants in their post-military career more easily. The SOCOM medic pilot program will use operational experience of special operators, along with academic partnerships across the nation, to shorten the certification time from two years to five months. This bill also authorizes several hundred million dollars for multiple North Carolina military installations such as Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point and New River. I look forward to seeing the NDAA signed into law soon.”

Washington, DC: North Carolina’s US Senators Richard M. Burr and Thom Tillis urged the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate Armed Services and Defense Appropriations Committees to purchase 93 F-35 fighter aircraft during the 2018-2019 federal fiscal year. This request, made in an April 11 letter to the Senate appropriators, would add 16 Joint Strike Fighters to next year’s budget. Senator Tillis is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee’s Personnel Subcommittee. Senator Burr is chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

The President’s Budget included 77 F-35s for $10.7 billion.

Senators Burr and Tillis joined with 23 of their fellow Senators to urge that funding be increased as part of a cost savings and production effort to ensure that an optimal production rate of 80 F-35As, 24 F-35Bs and 24 F-35Cs is achieved as quickly as possible. Individual unit costs have come down 60% over the past 11 years, with the goal of a $79 million aircraft by 2020.

“We are pleased to work in close concert with Senators Burr and Tillis and their very capable staffs on this important funding effort,” said ACT President Will Lewis. “Both Senators have a completely open door policy with ACT and our community leaders on all things Cherry Point. It is also important to remind ourselves that cutting costs by increasing production is a means to an end to ensure that Cherry Point and FRC-East will remain a national military asset.”

Cherry Point is the largest Marine Corps Air Station in the world, and the planned assignment of 94 F-35B fighters to the station by the mid-2020s will mean that Cherry Point will be home to the largest deployment of Joint Strike Fighters in the Marine Corps.

The Offices of United States Senator Richard Burr and United States Senator Thom Tillis and the North Carolina Military Business Center are pleased to announce the 2017 Southeast Region Aerospace Supplier and Advanced Manufacturing Summit on August 15-16 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

PROGRAM. The Southeast Region Aerospace Supplier and Advanced Manufacturing (SEASAM) Summit is a regional, business development and teaming event focused on current and future defense, commercial and general aviation business opportunities.

An expansion of previous Aerospace Supplier Conferences, the SEASAM will showcase companies within the Southeast Region engaged in advanced manufacturing and aerospace-related activities, and will connect suppliers and service providers with national aerospace primes, first-tier subs and both military and civilian aerospace customers. The SEASAM program is functionally organized and will feature sessions focused on manufacturers, product and service providers in the aerospace industry.

AERONET SESSIONS.

Take part in AeroNet, informal networking sessions, in the middle of the expo floor to learn more about the opportunities that exist with federal and Department of Defense agencies, and with prime, first-tier contractors. The following AeroNet sessions are available:

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Company

Unmanned Systems session panelists

Military MRO session panelists

UNMANNED AEROSPACE SYSTEMS: POLICY, PRODUCTION, OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE. This panel will focus on military and civilian Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) design, manufacturing, deployment, equipping and sustainment in North Carolina and the Southeast. The panel will specifically highlight military requirements, operations and challenges, public policy issues surrounding UAS and the opportunity to develop a comprehensive industry cluster for research, development, production, fielding, operation and maintenance of unmanned aerial systems.

COMMERCIAL MRO: FORECAST, REQUIREMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROCESSES. This panel will address the experience, capabilities and leading-edge maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) operations conducted by MRO businesses in support of civilian, military and general aviation customers. The panel will also address their unique workforce requirements and issues, challenges encountered in military and commercial contracting and procurement systems, as well as their processes for engaging suppliers and subcontractors in support of their current and future MRO operations.

MILITARY MRO: FORECAST, REQUIREMENTS, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROCESSES. This panel will focus on current operations, future requirements, supply chain processes, contractor engagement, workforce issues and small business utilization at major military maintenance, repair & overhaul (MRO) commands, including Fleet Readiness Center East at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, the US Coast Guard (USCG) Aviation Logistics Center at USCG Base Elizabeth City. The session will also include the perspective of the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Rolls-Royce, L-3 Communications Vertex Aerospace and major contractors supporting these commands, including their operations, challenges and use of subcontractors and/or suppliers. The panelists may also address any lessons learned, anticipated requirements and potential strategies to increase the utilization and engagement of additional businesses to continuously improve their organizations and to meet their future operational requirements.

HOW TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE SKIES OF LEGAL DISPUTES. Learn key information to protect your business on two areas of legal disputes: Products liability issues and Contract dispute issues. Susan Hofer, Aviation partner with CSHLaw, will present on the top tips for defending your company against the risks in aviation products cases for manufacturers (including drones!); Mica Worthy, Aviation partner with CSHLaw, will present on common risks that aerospace suppliers/manufactures face in contract disputes including international payment issues. Q&A to follow.

ADVANCED MANUFACTURING FOR MILITARY AND CIVILIAN AEROSPACE. This panel will focus on innovative technologies and advanced manufacturing processes utilized by businesses engaged in the aerospace market. These include rapid prototyping, advanced machining, other advanced additive and subtractive processes, non-invasive quality assurance technologies and integration of specialty metals, composites and other advanced materials into aerospace manufacturing. The panel will also address military additive manufacturing requirements, adoption, and challenges with component qualification/certification and maintenance/security of data files associated with military advanced manufacturing activities.

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